Improvement in reed-organ actions



J. H. CHASE. Reed-Organ Action.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

J. HERBERT CHASE, CF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REED-ORGAN ACTIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,866. dated December 23, 1879 application filed July 2, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J. HERBERT CHASE, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Reed- Organs, ot' which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention consists, in substance, in the interposition and arrangement between a key and the valve to such key of a novel construetion of spring-lever, in a manner to assist the depression of the key in opening ofthe valve against its spring, said interposed spring counteracting and counterbalancing the increase in tension of the valve-spring from and after the lirst movement ot' the valve from its seat through the depression of the key.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, Figures l and 2 are, respectively, a plan and a side elevation ot' the key and valve, having a spring interposed and arranged between the two for an action of the valve, such as above described; Fig. 3, a "ertical cross-section on line x Figs. l and 2; Figs. 4 and 5, end Views.

In the drawings, A represents an organ-key; B, a valve opening against a bent spring, C, and operated upon by the depression of the key A through a stem, D, all asis well known and common ain reedorgans; c, a cushioned washer or shoulder on valve-stem D, below the key A. On the upper and cushioned side of this washer c rests an arm, I), of a horizontal lever-rod, E, which turns in bearings d f of two rails, g h. Said bearings form the fulcruin of said lever-rod E, and this rod, between said two bearings,/is crooked or bent, making an arm, l, thereto on a side opposite to that of the projection or arm b, and beyond its bearing-rail h. At the rear ot' the key the rod has an upward projection or arm, m, to the upper end of which is hun g one end ot' a spiral spring, n, the lower end of which is made fast to a stationary part of the key support or frame F. Gis acushioned button, which screws on a Xed screw-stem, o, and is located in a position for the arm lof the lever-rod E to rest thereon, and thus to act as a stop to the rotation of the rod E in the direction which moves its arm b upward toward the under side of the key, or, in other words, from the cushioned washer of the valvestem, and as said button screws upon the screw-stein 0 obvious] y its height can be adjusted at pleasure, and thus the movement of the rod-arm E in the upward direction described regulated as desired, and as and for the reasons as will hereinafter fully appear.

The spring applied to the lever-rod E, as above described, is such as to turn said rod in a direction for its arm resting on the shoulder a of the valvestem D to depress said stem, and thus through it the valve, opening the same, and it is adjusted 4so that its said action will take place in conjunction with the depression ofthe key by the player, and in a mauner to counterbalance and counteract the increase in tension on the valve-spring as it continues to open through the continued depression of the key by the player.

The lever-rod spring can be adjusted in relation to the tension of the valve-spring s0 that more or less of its tension will be overcome, and it should be adjusted when at rest so as to bear but slightly on the shoulders of the valve-stem, in order not to interfere with proper closing of the valve, to prevent leakage and consequently the sounding of the valve when the key is not depressed, and yet so that it will follow instantly the depression of the valve-stem by the key, and operate in conj unction therewith, as hereinbei'ore described.

In Figs. I and 5 are shown the position of the arm m ot' lever-rod E when at rest and when the valve is fully open.

The arm portion l of rod E can be reversed or on opposite side, if desired. In that case the button G must be placed accordingly, so as to stop its movement in such position for the proper working of the invention.

The advantages of this invention are many, among which may be mentioned that the organ-action by its use will have a light, easy, and pleasing touch, which is very desirable.

By a suitable disposition of the lever-rod E it may also act as a coupler-lever, and such a disposition of it it is intended to protect and secure by a separate application for Letters Patent of the United States.

Having thus described my invention, what projecting in Opposite directions, and t spring, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patn, in combination with zin adjustable button, ent, is- G, u, valve-stem, D, a' valve-swing, C, zt key,

l. The combination of lever-rod E, having l A, and it valve, B, substcntiztllyas and for the :t spring, n, and side arms, b and Z, projecting' purpose specified.

therefrom, with aJ key, A, spring-impellcd J. HERBERT CHASE. valve B, and a connecting` device between the Witnesses: key and valve', substantially as described. EDWIN WV. BROWN,

2. The lever-rod E, having side arms, b l, NV. S. BELLOWS. 

